Mini Quilt Mondays::Fire in the Hole

Actually, no fire and I wasn't planning on yelling that in a crowded theater.
I just happen to name today's mini quilt, Circle in the Hole(coming pics will hopefully explain why) and, because my mind works in a very stream of consciousness way, the phrase, fire in the hole, came to mind.
That's the end of the association.
Anyhoo, here is this week's mini:

I've had that center dyed circle since possibly the beginning of time and it just seemed right to finally use it. Also, I've been thinking a lot about my Fish Baby Log Cabin quilt design. Put these two things together and what do you have? I don't know for sure, but this seemed as good a guess as any.

For those of you interested in playing along with the weekly mini quilt making, I created a flickr group just for that purpose, so feel free to join the fun.

New for me...and maybe for you too

Before we get into what's new or old or in between, let meet our giveaway winner.
To quote Bob Barker, " Janet M., come on down!" Or you could just email me(malka@stitchindye.com) your address, if that's easier.
Just in case we had multiple Janets or you just don't recognize your name, here's Janet's comment:

Churn Dash is one of may favorite traditional blocks. I can't wait to see what else you come up with! Thanks for the chance to win some of your fabric!

Now, back to me.
Actually, I have several items that are new and newsy.
First, this:

I made a new dress. Honestly, it's not that new. It's newly finished, but I have been working, and I use that term extremely loosely, on this for the past year.

Before you start helping me out with all sorts of excuses like, "she must have drafted the pattern herself," or "she grew the cotton and wove the cloth," I'm going to have to come clean and admit that there's no legitimate reason why this dress took so long to finish. I just didn't finish it until, one day, I did.
It's beautiful though. Crafted from Amy Butler's Lotus Tunic and Cami pattern, I made mine in a beautiful, lacey fabric. It's fully lined and felt so delicate and special as I was making it that I decided it "deserved" a bit of hand finishing. I don't think I've ever thought that about a garment before, but this one seemed to call for it.

I wore it on Yom Kippur and for many of my co-religionists or Jews in the Pews as I like to refer to them in synagogue, you understand why.

So, what's new for you? Well, a couple things.
First, I have some new items in my shop.

New a stitch in dye charm square bundles. For those of you not familiar, these are bundles of 18, 5"x 5", hand dyed and patterned cotton fabrics in a variety of patterns and colorways. It's a great way to get a taste of these artisan fabrics.
Also, I added a new challah cover:

This too is crafted out of my hand dyed and patterned cottons, including the letters which are patterned and dyed. It's densely quilted and bound with one of my a stitch in color prints.

My other new item is a change in my blog. I've been in need of some structure here lately and have decided to organize my blogging week around three featured posts, Mini Quilt Mondays, Mid-Week Workshops, and Friday Shop Features.
I've done Mini Quilt Mondays before, so, for those of you who are long time readers, this won't be that new to you.
The Mid-Week Workshops will be simple tutorials or tips related to sewing, dyeing, quilting, or mountain climbing. Ok, maybe not mountain climbing.
And, Friday Shop Features will update you on what's new in my shop and maybe highlight some other online places you might like.
So, with that announcement and the pressure it puts on me, I'll sign off and get to work.

Have a great weekend!

Moda Blog Hop:: Day My Turn

Alright Blog Hop Bunnies, are you ready for something big?
I mean really big.
Back when the theme of Size Matters was proposed and we designers were asked for input about the blocks, I asked, "what about supersizing?"
This is not particularly surprising to those of you who are familiar with my quilts, like this and this and this.
I love, love, love the idea of taking a traditional block and reinterpreting it really, really big.
I think it gives a traditional block a new, fresh look and, as an added bonus, allows you to piece up a large quilt pretty darn quickly.
For this event, I selected a well known and much-loved block, Churn Dash. It's a super-simple block consisting of half-square triangles and squares made up as a nine patch. Because it's very simple and straightforward, it is perfect for manipulation.
Check out mine:

This block measures 24" x 24". Yes 2 feet in both directions.
I've made it up in a combination of muslin and one of the prints for my new collection, From Outside In.
After I made this block, I was so excited about it that I made a couple more:

And maybe even a fourth:

All, of course featuring prints from From Outside In.
Wait till you see these fabrics. I am so happy with how they turned out.
I had debated about whether I wanted to stop here at a quilt that would measure about 48" square or keep going to make an even larger quilt.

I think I've decided to finish this quilt at its current size because I'd like to make a second version that playes up the spaces in between the churn dash motif.
One of the things I absolutely love about From Outside In is the solids in this collection and I'd like to make a quilt that focuses on those.
So many options and only 6 weeks or so until Quilt Market.
Have I whetted your appetite yet to try supersizing? Especially supersizing this block?
Well, good.
Here's the link to all the info you could ever need to make this block both in the super size size and in a few more modestly scaled versions.
Also, I'm not the only one on the blog hop today, so, after you visit here, bop on over to check out these two lovely ladies and their creations.
And, let's face it, what would a blog hop be without a giveaway? So, because I really, really like you and because it's really, really fun, I'm giving away a jelly roll of fabric featuring my most recent Moda collection, Simple Marks.
What do you have to do to win? Eat a bunch of carrots? No, just leave a comment and I'll randomly draw a winner once the blog hop is over. I'm going to have to limit the winner to someone in the US though, international postage is, you know, tres expensive.

Recents

Just a few images that hopefully capture some of the goings on in my studio this week.

 

 

Bolt ends from my new collection, From Outside In

 

The beginnings of a new Twinkle Quilt

Experimenting with some of the prints in my new collection

Lots going on in my studio, but there's always time to make a new dress.

Making Multiples

I was about to start off this post with a bold-faced lie. Well, not exactly a lie, so much as being less than honest with myself. I had intended to open by saying that I almost never make multiples of things just like I almost never read the same book twice.
But, you know what? That's not true. In fact the opposite is true. Not that I read the same book twice, that part is accurate, but that I make multiples. Especially when it comes to garment sewing.
Here's proof:

See? I made all these, plus one I gave away, over the course of this past summer.
Don't get too impressesed though, they are beyond easy to make and very quick as well.
My pattern was Burda Style 7509 and it is everything a pattern should be: clear, simple, and capable of helping you craft a truly wearable item.
Somewhat off topic: I've promised myself that I would really, really learn Photoshop this year instead of relying on the same techniques I always use or tinkering around aimlessly and coming up with something I like, but can't repeat, so here's my "collage" of my Burda tanks. I still have so much to learn, but at least I'm taking the first step.

It was almost as fun to create the collage as it was to sew the tanks. I think I'll make multiples here too!

The Breakfast Club

My post has only a very little to do with that wonderful 80's movie, The Breakfast Club, but I needed a title and the movie did actually start me down memory lane.
Confused yet? I am and I'm writing this.
It all began last night...sort of.
I've been working on a mini quilt to add to my store and over the weekend had finished the quilting and was ready to bind.
Last night being the last night of my daughter's summer vacation, she said she wanted to watch the Breakfast Club with me.
"We can stream it through Netflix, Mom, " she said. " It's a classic."
I remember being in High School when this movie came out and going to the theater to see it. No streaming then.
Next thing you know we're settling in on her bed, laptop perched on her lap, and preparing to enjoy this now classic movie.
In the interest of having something to post here today, I decided to use the time to finish the binding on the quilt and then it struck me, " Tomorrow is Monday. I used to have a weekly feature on my blog and even a related Flickr group called Mini Quilt Monday."
There you have it, my brief trip down memory lane, recounted here so I could post this:

I previously mentioned that in cleaning(read excavating) my studio, I found various bits of patchwork that I had set aside for one reason or another. The center portion of this mini quilt and another were mostly dyed to look like improvisationally pieced Double Wedding Ring blocks.
I added more improv strips, quilted it in concentric circles from the center out, and bound it while watching Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson, now 45 and 53, respectively, act out their teenage angst.

Pretty good times and good memories.

From Outside In

That's the name of my new fabric collection for Moda Fabrics and I couldn't be more excited.

I took this super-quick preview shot yesterday after I laid all 33 prints, 6 solids, and 1 cheater cloth print (yes, there's a cheater print in this collection too) out on my dining table. These are just a few and they are all beautiful!
See the one on the very far right? Well I'm washing that one today to prep it for this pattern, but with this modification.
And I'm thinking about re-creating this pillow with the stripes in my new collection.
And I have plans for a quilt that features the prints set against a neutral background. Maybe with some curved piecing for extra, good measure.
I wasn't planning on having today's post be about these fabrics, but when I opened the box(all 78 pounds of it), I got so excited, I knew I would share at least a tidbit about this with you all today.
Now it's back to the projects I was working on and clearing some shelf space for these new beauties.
Have a great weekend!